Grain-separator



vA. J. VANTUYL.

I Thrashing Machine.

Patented July 2, 1861.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANDREV J. VANTUYL, OF HECTOR, NEW YORK.

GRAIN-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,729, dated July 2, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. VANTUYL, of Hector, in the county ofSchuyler and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedSeparator for Threshing Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying being longitudinal with the machine.

drawings, making part of this description, in which Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section of a threshing machine with my improvedseparator attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cylindricalscreen Gr, detached. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1, the threshingcylinder being broken away.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

As represented in the drawings A A, is the frame supporting andinclosing the working parts of a threshing machine, of which B, is thethreshing cylinder, .the concave, D the endless apron or elevator whichconveys the threshed grain to the point at which it is separated fromthe straw. This point is indicated by the beater C, which revolves morerapidly than the apron, and shakes and loosens the straw, while itcarries it upon the riddle or slat-tedcarrier E, until the grain fallsthrough the space between D and E, onto the inclined board F, whichdischarges it into the end of the cylindrical screen G, This screenconsists of a cylinder open at both ends, and composed of perforatedsheet metal or of wire cloth, or other suitable material, which is hungon an arbor or shaft supported in bearings e f, its axis Its relation tothe fan or blower H, is such that the blast is divided, a part passingthrough the screen G, and a portion underneath it. The spindle 9supports the screen by crossarms 70 connected with a circular frame j,of which one should be provided at each end, and as many intermediateones as are required to give it stability. The form of the screen may beeither circular or octagonal. If the circular form is used there shouldbe three or four longitudinal strips 29 p Fig. 2, with spikes in themplaced between the circular frames 011 the interior, the oflice of whichis to carry the chaff and grain up the sides and drop it more than itotherwise would, which greatly facilitates their separation. A pulley 72is fixed on one end of the spindle bywhich it is revolved by a crossband running from one of the side ulleys of the machine, or gearing maybe usec to make the connection. It is desirable to make the screensomewhat conical or diminishing toward the fart-her extremity. Thebearing of the box 7 is slotted so that it may be raised or lowered by ahand screw Z, to increase or diminish the inclination of the axis of thescreen, as may be required to regulate its operation on the grain. Theposition of the screen is directly beneath the straw carrier E, which isseparated from it by a board partition m. The carrier E, moves on therollers n n and the apron D on similar ones 0 0. These rollers as wellas the blower H, are driven by bands or gear pulleys on their respectiveshafts, which extend through to the outside of the machine as shown inFig. 8, and are driven from the cylindrical shaft 13. This arrangementis so well understood and common to machines of this class that aparticular description here is not deemed to be necessary. The screenshould revolve more slowly than either the cylinder or the fan, but theprecise rate of motion is not important.

All the grain and chaff that fall on the inclined board F, are conducteddirectly into the screen, which acts as an efficient separator bypassing the grain through its interstices and retaining the chafl untilit is discharged at the farther end. The grain falls on the chute-boardN, which conducts it to a place of deposit, and is subjected to theblast from the fan H, both while falling into the screen, and afterpassing through it, so that the lighter portion of chaff is blownthrough the screen, leaving only the coarse or heavier portions to beseparated by it. The result is that the grain is very effectivelyseparated and cleaned, while several important advantages are obtained.It simplifies the machine, requiring fewer parts and less power than avibrating separator. It runs with a steadier motion, obviating thetrembling and shaking which are inseparable from a machine withvibrating sieves. The direction of its motion being at right angles withthat of the cylinder and other rotating parts, it tends to neutralizethe vibration, and keep the machine steady. The regulation of the screenby the adjusting screw Z enables the chaff to be quickly discharged orlonger retained according as its dampness, or other circumstances orcondition may render necessary. From the constant changing, and throwingover and over of the chafi as it revolves, this screen Will not clog,While it separates faster than any fiat screen of the same superficialdimensions.

chines, consisting of the adjustable cylindrical rotating screen G,combined and ar- 10 ranged With the fan H, and carriers D and E,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown anddescribed.

A. J. VANTUYL.

Witnesses:

S. J. ALLIs, J. FRASER.

